Railway draft gear



Dec. 29,1925- R. D. GALLAGHER, JR

RAILWAY DRAFT GEAR 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed August 15 1924 Dec. 29, 1925- 7 v R. D. GALLAGHER, JR

RAILWAY DRAFT GEAR Filed August 15 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l l 1 I l 1 V I II ll '1 KN R. D. GALLAGHER, JR

RAILWAY DRAFT GEAR Filed August .15 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD D. GALLAGHER, JR., OF FREEPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LILLIAN K. GALLAGHER, OF FREEPOR'I, NEW YORK.

RAILWAY DRAFT GEAR.

Application filed August 15, 1924. Serial No. 732,204.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD D. GAL- LAGHER, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Freeport, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Draft Gears; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. 4

This invention relates to railway draft gears, one of its objects being the provision of a draft gear having an exceedingly high efficiency without exceeding the dimensions now fixed by standard practice.

Still other objects are to provide a gear in which the parts cannot be assembled in improper relation to each other and in which parts, such as the friction box and spring barrel, are so constructed as to obtain the maximum degree of resistance to breakage or distortioning strains.

Another object is to provide a novel way of securing the friction box to the barrel while maintaining the strength of those parts, and a further object is to attach the spring plate to one of the wedge-shaped friction members whereby the friction member may be adjusted longitudinally of the gear to compensate for wear.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gear;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line. 4:& of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view with the front follower removed and looking into the friction box, one of the side wedges being removed.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3. V

The draft gear of the present invention embodies in its construction certain features which are common to the draft gear illustrated in patents heretofore granted to this applicantand which have now gone into extensive public use; that is to say, there are relatively movable parts with friction elements interposed between them, said friction elements embodying longitudinally and transversely movable wedge blocks with a center wedge which, by co-operation with the wedge blocks, is given a difierential movement with respect to the relatively movable members, so as to compress the springs to a greater degree than would be the case were they interposed directly between the relatively movable parts of the gear. The structure also embodies suitable means for transmitting pressure from the front follower to the rear follower, such means preferably comprising a spring barrel or housing for the springs and a friction box carried by said barrel with which the blocks co-operate for effecting the lateral movement of the blocks proportionately in accordance with their longitudinal movement.

In the accompanying drawings, the housing or, as is commonly termed in the art, the spring barrel is indicated generally by the reference letter A; the friction box, by the reference letter B; the front follower. by the reference letter C; the side wedges, by the reference letter D; and the center wedge or central friction block by the reference letter E.

In accordance with the present invention, the so-called spring-barrel is an integral structure preferably tapered toward its rear end where it abuts the rear follower C. This tapered shape of the barrel greatly facilitates the molding operation in the manufacture thereof. Within the barrel there is a plurality of sets of nested springs. Preferably there is a centrally disposed set F and four other sets F arranged around the set F, these latter sets being arranged somewhat in pairs at opposite sides of the barrel. To further facilitate production of the barrel, all partitions to separate and maintain the individual sets in their proper relative positions are omitted, this positioning of the springs being taken care of in the present gear. by rounding the corners of the barrel as at a and providing longitudinally extending indentations in the sides of the barrel, as at a, a to form what might be termed pockets for the four corner springs, while the central spring is held in proper position by the indentations a and the spring plate G. width of the face 6! which engages the fric- At its larger or front end, the barrel is entirely open to permit the insertion of the springs and it is to this end that the friction box B is attached. To obviate the necessity of cutting away, and thereby weakening, the edge portion of the friction box and the end portions of the side walls of the barrel, the present invention contemplates the provision of a novel arrangementfor securing the box to the barrel which will permit the end faces of the barrel against which the box abuts, and the abutting surface of the box being made perfectly plane. This is preferably accomplished by having a lag screw H at each of two opposite sides of the barrel extending through offsets ((13 formed intermediate the ends of the barrel by the indentions 42 at the rear of the barrel. These screws project beyond the front end face of the barrel and engage in suitably screwthreaded sockets in. the inner face of the friction box. This structure results not only in strengthening the bar el and box, but it also reduces the cost of production in that the barrel has practically its entire end surface in one transverse plane which can be quickly and cheaply finished off. The box also has a plane inner face. To prevent relative movement of the box and barrel in one direction laterally of the barrel, two opposite sldes of the barrel are recessed preferably at their ends, as indicated at a and the box is formed with two lugs b which project nto said recesses in line with the offset portions a and are provided with the sockets to receive the lag screws H. These lugs also he between inner extending ribs or flanges a in the barrel so that relative lateral movement of the barrel with respect to the box is prevented. Lateral movement of said members in a direction at right angles to the recessed sides of the box will be further prevented by the strap or yoke that is commonly employed in draft gears to encircle two sides of the barrel and follower.

Located in the friction box B and supported as usual on the spring plate G are the wedge-shaped friction members D and E. As these wedges or friction members are apt to be assembled improperly, the friction box B of the present invention is made with its friction face ends 6 considerably narrower or shorter than the middle portion thereof, the side walls of the box tapering, so to speak, from the middle toward the frictlon faces (3 The side wedges D, as usual, are substantially triangular in cross-section, having one face adapted to engage the center wedge, a second face 03 adapted to engage the friction face of the box, and a third face d against which the follower block abuts. In the present instance, however, the width of the faces cl, d of each side Wedge is greater at all points than the tion box, the width of the wedge conforming to the tapered opening in the friction box. Due to this peculiar formation, the side wedges cannot possibly be placed in the box, if they are rotated about their major. axis, although they can be so inserted if their ends only are reversed, as the face (5 will still engage the friction surface of the box. With wedges of this formation, it is not necessary to wait until the follower block is attempted to be assembled before the erroneous assembling of the wedges is brought to light.

Another feature contemplated by the present invention is the adjustability of the center wedge, longitudinally of the barrel or gear. In its preferred form the spring plate is formed with a central recess 9' on its inner face, and on its outer face it has a ledge g on which the center wedge rests. To secure the wedge to the plate, a. lag screw g extends axially through the plate and engages in a screw-threaded socket in the wedge. The head of the screw is located in said recess 9 so as not to interfere with the springs in the barrel, and by loosening up a little on the screw, the wedge can be shimmed up on the ledge g to compensate for any wear that takes place on the various parts.

The corners of the side wedges adjacent the center wedge and follower are prefer-- ably rounded off to give the friction elements a greater range of lateral movement when under compression than would be the case if they were made true triangles in cross-section. This reduces not only the space required for their proper functioning, but also reduces the size of the gear.

As the spring plate is formed with a depression for the head of lag screw it is preferred that the depth and diameter of said recess be of such dimensions as to reccive the adjacent ends of the central set of sg irings. Thus, the indented portions a of the barrel, and the removable lugs I at the opposite end of the barrel will maintain the central set of springs in proper position.

With a gear embodying the present improvements, it is practical to make the same of a size which will come within the dimensions set by standard present day practice and will permit of the gear being mounted in standard attachments. Furthermore, the present gear possesses a high degree of capacity and efficiency.

Another advantage of the present con struction resides in the fact that the indentations in the sides of the barrel constitute a substantial brace towards the middle of th rear follower C to reinforce said follower against strains set up therein when balling action takes place.

While the wedge blocks have been described in. some detail it is to be borne in mind that the triangularly shaped ends of the side blocks may be varied. It is only necessary that the corners lying toward the center'wedgethat is the corners which are preferably rounded to increase the range of lateral movementbe of a greater dimension than the friction surface 6 of friction box B. Attention is also called to the fact that said rounded corners lie in a plane parallel to the friction surface d which peculiarly permits the reversal of the side friction blocks so that the surfaces (1 and (1 may be reversed. This reversibility of the block is highly desirable in connection with making adjustments for repairs.

I claim:

1. In a draft gear the combination of a pressure transmitting means including a friction box, said box having a wedge receiving opening with friction surfaces atits opposite ends, a spring, a center wedge or friction block held advanced by said spring to position it in the box between the opposed friction surfaces of said box, a side wedge between said center wedge and each of the friction surfaces of the box and having one face only adapted to engage said surface, and means for preventing insertion of the side wedges in the Wedge opening between the center wedge and box when the box engaging faces of said. side wedges have been moved bout a transverse axis while pernntting the respective wedges to be reversed endwise in the opening.

2. In a draft gear, the combination of a pressure transmitting means including a friction box, a spring, a wedge held advanced by said spring and centrally disposed in said friction box, and wedges 1nterposed between the box and central wedge, each interposed wedge having one friction face engaging the box and another engaging the central wedge, the last-mentloned face of each interposed wedge being wider than the other face, whereby the wedges may be inserted between the central wedge and friction box only with the shorter face in engagement with the friction box wall.

3. In a draft gear, the combination of a pressure transmitting means including a friction box, said box having a wedge receivii'ig opening therein with friction surfaces at opposite ends of' the opening, a spring, a wedge or friction block held advanced by said spring and located in said opening intermediate the opposite friction surfaces of the box, and a Wedge between oppositesides of said central wedge and each friction surface of the box, the width of the wedge opening and-of the side wedges along the friction surfaces of the box being less than the width of said parts at the line of contact between the side wedges and central wedge or block.

4-. In a draft gear, the combination of a pressure transmitting means including a friction box having a wedge receiving opening with inclined friction surfaces at its opposite ends, a spring, a central wedge or friction block held advanced by said spring and located in the box intermediate the opposed friction surfaces of the latter, and side wedges interposed between said central block and the friction surfaces of the box, said side wedges each having a plurality of friction faces only one of which can be placed in contact with its corresponding friction surface of the box when assembling the wedges in the box.

A side wedge for draft gears of substantially triangular cross section and having a face adapted to engage a follower block, the other two faces being adapted to engage friction surfaces of a center wedge or friction block and friction box, respectively, the width of the wedge along one edge of the follower block receiving face being greater than that along the opposite edge of said ace.

6. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a spring barrel and a friction box attached to one end of said barrel, the end face of the barrel to which said box is attached extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, and said box and said end face of the barrel being formed with cooperating elements for preventing relative movement of the box and barrel in one direction laterally of the barrel.

7. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a spring barrel and a friction box secured to one end of the barrel, substantially the entire end face ofthe barrel against which the box abuts lyingin a single plane, said abutting portion of the box and said end face of the barrel having cooperating elements for preventing relative movement of the box and barrel in one direction laterally of the barrel.

8. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a spring barrel, a friction box secured to one end of the barrel, the friction box lying entirely outside of the end of the barrel to which it is attached, and lugs formed on said friction box, there being recesses in the end of'the barrel in which said lugs are received whereby relative movement of the box and barrel in one direction laterally of the barrel is prevented.

9. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a spring barrel, a friction box secured to one end of the barrel, there being recesses in said end of the barrel and substantially the entire end face of the barrel against which the box abuts lying in a single plane transversely of the barrel and said box lying entirely outside said end face of the barrel and lugs formed on the abutting surface of the box adapted to be received in the recesses in the end face of the barrel for preventing relative movement of the box and barrel in one direction laterally of the barrel.

10. In a railway draftgear, the combination of a spring barrel, a plurality of springs in the barrel, offsets formed in two opposite walls of the barrel intermediate adjacent springs of a friction box adapted to be socured against the end face of the barrel, and securing means extending through said offset side portions and engaging the friction box.

ll. In a railway draft gear, the combina tion of a spring barrel having offsets formed in its opposite sides, and depressions in one of its e d faces in longitudinal alinement with said offsets, of a friction b x adapted to be secured againstsaid end of the barrel, lugs on said box projecting into said end depressions, and securing means extending through said side offsets and attached to the lugs on the friction box.

12. ln a railway draft gear, the combination of a spring barre-l having offsets in two opposite sides and depressions in one of its end faces in longitudinal alinement with the offsets, said end face of the barrel between the depression lying in a single plane, a friction box adapted to be secured against said end of the barrel, there being lugs on the box projecting into said depressions and th remainder of the contacting face of the box lying in a single plane, and means extending through said offsets in the barrel and engaging the friction box lugs for attacl'iing the box to the barrel.

13. In a railway draft gear, the combination with a spring barrel, springs, spring plate, friction box and follower, of a plurality of wedges in said box interposed between said spring plate and follower, one of said wedges bearing on the spring plate and being secured thereto, said wedge being adjustable relatively to the plate longitudinally of the barrel.

let. A railway draft gear such as de scribed in claim 13, the spring plate having a depression in its inner face and a lag screw countersunk in said depression and extending through said plate into th wedge to be secured to the plate.

15. In a railway draft gear, the combina tion of a spring barrel and a friction box abutting against one end face of said barrel, said box and said end face of the barrel being formed with cooperating elements for preventing relative movement of the box and barrel in one direction laterally of the barrel.

16. In a railway draft gear, the combination of a spring barrel, a friction box abutting against an end face of the barrel, said end face having recesses formed therein,

and lugs on said friction box extending into 'J'lQl for preventing rel are box and barrel in one of the barrel.

1?. In a draft gear, the combination of a barrel and friction box, one of said members having depressions in two of its sides at one end thereof and the other being provided with co-operat-ing lugs adapt-ed to project into said depressions, and means for securing said box to the barrel.

18. In a draft gear, the cornl'iination of a barrel and friction box abutting against each other, one of said members having desions therein and the other member be- 5 provided with cooperating lugs adapted o broject into said depressions for oreventno; relative nioven'ient of the box and barin one,

direction laterally of the barrel.

s ie wedge for draft gears of sub- 3 triangular cross section and haya face adapted to engage a follower och, tr e other two faces being adapted to o of a center friction box, respectively, the de wedge engaging the fol- -g in width from the friction box engaging face toward the center block engaging iace.

20. A side wedge for draft gears of subntially triangular cross section and havn a face adapted to engage a follower block, the other two faces being adapted to fllCtlOll surfaces of a center friction and a friction box, respectively, the width of said wedge along the intersection of the follower engaging face and the friction block engaging face being greater than at the intersection of said center wedge engaging face and friction box engaging face.

21. A side wet go for draft gears of substantially triangular cross section and having a face adapted to a follower block, the other two faces being adapted to engage friction surfaces of a center friction block, and a friction box, respectively, the face of said side wedge engaging the friction block increasing in width from the friction bot-I engaging face of the wedge to the follower eng ng face.

22. side wed e for draft gears of substantially triangular cross section, said edge ving one face adapted to engage a RICHARD D. GALLAGHER, JR. 

